Tongs



Aug. 23, 1938. LE ROY WEISS. -'2,127,947

TONGS Filed Jun s, 1935 INVENTOR. LeRoy Weiss A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 PATENT OFFICE TONGS Le Roy Weiss, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application June 3, 1935, Serial No. 24,699

5 Claims.

This invention relates to tongs for use primarily in roasting wieners, marshmallows or the the like over an open fire, although also capable of advantageous use for various purposes in the kitchen. I

An object of the present invention is to provide improved tongs of simple light-weight construction which may be produced at very low cost.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the fol lowing description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

The single figure of the drawing is a perspective view of tongs constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The tongs selected for illustration are formed from a single piece of wire bent to form a pair of extended substantially parallel strands I0 and II joined at their rear ends by an integral connecting portion H2. The forward ends of the strands are bent to form a pair of coacting grip ping jaws l3 and M of suitable form pivotally connected by appropriate means, such as a metallic clip l5 which embraces adjacent end portions of the strands.

At points in advance of but adjacent the rear ends of the strands they are further bent to' provide laterally projecting actuators I6 and I! of suitable form pivotally connected by a second clip l8 which also embraces adjacent strand portions in a similar manner. Although those portions l9 and 20 of the wire strands behind the actuators 6 and I! may alone constitute a supporting handle for the device, they are preferably covered by a hand grip member 2| of wood or other appropriate material to protect the hand against the wire which may become uncomfortably hot while in use.

The strand portions I9 and 20 are anchored at their rear ends by the connector I2, but are otherwise free to rotate in the member 2| under the action of the actuators l6 and H.

In this instance those portions of the strands Ill and H between the jaws and actuators are crossed, so that the strand I0 connects the actuator It on one side of the device with the jaw l3 on the other side, and the strand I connects the actuator I! with the other jaw I4, and so that when the actuators are depressed the jaws l3 and I4 are separated to receive or release an object between them.

The jaws I3 and I4 normally assume the closed position shown. With the handle member 2! in one hand the actuators l6 and ii may be depressed conveniently by pressure of the thumb and fore finger thereon, thereby causing the jaws to open, and when this pressure is the jaws are urged toward closed position by the 5 torsional resilience in the strand portions i9 and In this instance the portions l9 and 2|! are assisted in the jaw closing action by a coil spring 22 mounted on the forward end of the member 2| with its ends 23 and 24 engaged with the actuators, as indicated.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a device of the character described the combination of a pair of wire strands, a supporting handle at the rear ends thereof, a pair of strand actuators adjacent the forward end of said handle each formed on one of said strands, and a pair of pivoted jaws formed at the 5 forward ends of said strands, the portions of said strands between said jaws and said actuators being crossed forthe purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of wire strands, means anchoringthe rear ends of said strands to resist rotation thereof, a pair of jaws each formed on the forward end of one of said strands and move able in response to rotation thereof, and actuators formed on each of said strands adjacent to said anchoring means for rotating said strands in conjunction or separately.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of wire strands, a pair of jaws each formed on one end of each of said strands and movable in response to rotation thereof, means anchoring the opposite ends of said strands to resist rotation thereof and thereby retain said jaws in closed position, and actuators upon each of said strands between said jaws and said anchoring means for twisting said strands adjacent said anchoring means to thereby separate said jaws.

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of wire strands, a pair of jaws each formed on one end of each of said strands and movable in response to rotation thereof, means anchoring the opposite ends of said strands to resist rotation thereof, and actuators upon each of said strands between said jaws and said anchoring means, said actuators being depressible to separate said jaws, the portion of said strands between said anchor means and said actuators being twistable upon depression of said actuators and being torsionally resilient to urge said jaws toward closed position upon release of said actuators.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a single piece of wire bent to form two adjacent strands, a pair of jaws each formed on the end of one of said strands and movable in response to rotation thereof, and actuators upon each of said strands for operating said jaws.

LE ROY WEISS 

